Baptismal robe



Aug. 25, 1959 G. N. BOBINCHAK BAPTISMAL ROBE Filed May 31, 1956 INVENTOR. 1M 2,. draw/Q BY XXMM United States Patent O BAPTISMAL ROBE Gilbert N. Bobinchak, Genesee, Pa.

Application May 31, 1956, Serial No. 588,519

1 Claim. (Cl. 2111) This invention relates to garments and more particularly to baptismal robes to be wornby infants when they are being baptized.

In certain Christian religions, it is part of the baptismal ritual for the priest to touch the chest of the infant being baptized with his hand. The infant usually is wrapped in blankets and various types of clothing and it is an inconvenience to remove the blankets or clothing in order for the proper ritual to be carried out.

The present invention proposes to solve this problem by providing a garment made in several layers which is substantially a set of clothing. A slide fastener is provided for opening all of the sets of clothing at one time whereby access can be easily and expeditiously had to the infants chest and without discomfort tothe infant or inconvenience to the ritualist.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a garment which overcomes the difficulties and disadvantages in prior clothing for use during a baptismal ritual and, more particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a baptismal robe which is simple to make, economical to manufacture, and simple and efiicient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baptismal robe which has a plurality of layers of clothing with a single fastener opening them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of layers of clothing in a garment having a unique ilap for covering the fastener.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a baptismal robe according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Now with more specific reference to the drawing, a baptismal robe is shown having a collar 11 made of an outer sheet 12 of cloth material such as nylon or other neat appearing fabric and an under layer 13 made of muslin or similar material. Lace 14 is attached between the layers 12 and 13 by means of stitching 15. The two layers 12 and 13 are turned back on themselves at 16 and 17. A lining 18 which is preferably a fluffy material such as blanket material is provided for the garment. An outer decorative material 19 may be silk, satin, nylon, or similar fine appearing goods and an intermediate layer 20 may be made of flannel or other material to give the garment body, the lining 18 being for the purpose of giving warmth to the garment.

layer '19 is bent back on itself at 24 and the lining 18 is bent back on itself at 25 with the edge of the strip 23 therebetween Stitching 30 holds the three pieces of cloth 18, 19, and 20 to the fastener strip 23. Slide fastener hooks 25a are attached to the slide fastener strip 23 at 26.

The right side of the body of the cloth terminates at 28 and is bent back on itself at 29 and folded under at 130. A crinoline strip 31 is inserted between the ends and a slide fastener strip 32. The lining 18 is bent back on itself at 34 and folded under at 35 and sewed with the outer layer 19 and the crinoline 31 and the slide fastener strip 32, thereby holding the entire assembly together.

The garment has a slide fastener slide means for engaging the hooks 25a which is a conventional device and the slide fasteners 25a and 39 are attached by moving the slide up. The slide fasteners 25a and 39 are released by moving the slide down.

When the garment is put on an infant, the lining 18 will rest against the infants body to keep him warm with the ends 34 protecting his chest from any draft which may enter through the slide fastener. An end 38 lies over the slide fastener and presents a pleasing appearance. Crosses and baptismal shells 40 are disposed on the garment to improve its appearance and suggest a religious environment. Small crosses 41 are formed on the lace collar 11 in order to provide a religious appearance.

During the baptismal ritual, the infant to be baptized will be clothed in the robe and the slide fastener closed to keep the chest warm. When the place in the ritual is reached where the ritualists hand must be laid upon the infants chest, the slide fasetner may be quickly opened and the ritual continued without delay or discomfort to the infant. After this part of the ritual, the fastener can be closed to protect the infant from drafts and cold.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claim.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

A baptismal robe comprising a body portion made of three layers of fabric, said three layers comprising a lining of soft blanket like material, an intermediate layer of fabric, and an outer layer of neat appearing material, and a collar attached to all said three layers, said collar defining an opening through said three layers comprising said blanket like material, said intermediate layer, and said neat appearing material, said three layers being attached together at the front and defining a continuation of said opening extending down from said collar a substantial distance down the front thereof, said layers of fabric being attached together and defining a continuation of said opening and extending at either side of said continuation of said opening, a slide fastener having a part thereof attached to said three fabric layers along each side of said opening, and means to close said slide fastener, said slide fastener being attached to said three fabric layers along one side thereof by means of a strip attached to said slide fastener along one edge thereof and being disposed between said neat appearing material and said intermediate material, said neat appearing material overlying said slide fastener along one edge of said opening and being bent outwardly and back on itself forming a flap, said blanket like material underlying said intermediate material and extending under said slide fastener along one edge of said opening, said blanket like material then being bent inwardly and back on itself to the edge of said strip forming a flap, said slide fastener being attached to said three fabric layers by means of stitching through said neat appearing material, theend thereof bent back on itself, said strip, said intermediate material, said blanket like material, and the end thereof bent back on itself.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,125 Gentry Feb. 7, 1905 4 Ulrich Sept. 8, 1942 OHara Apr. 24, 1945 Condon Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1901 France Feb. 7, 1951 

